Basketball Australia, the sport’s national governing body, has agreed broadcast rights deals with Foxtel, the pay-television operator, and ABC, the country's public-service network, for this season’s Women’s National Basketball League.

Under the agreements, all 60 games will be broadcast live domestically across Foxtel and ABC.

There will be four live games per week shown on Fox Sports and sister streaming service Kayo, while ABC will simulcast on both its primary channel and ABC iview, its video-on-demand platform. 

In addition to streaming the games that will be broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo will stream all remaining games in the 2020 season. 

Basketball Australia's previous deal with Foxtel expired after the 2019-20 season.

ABC returns as a WNBL broadcaster after previously holding rights to the competition for seven years from 2007 to 2014. 

Last season, 14 games were also shown on public-service broadcaster SBS after the network signed a sub-licensing deal with Foxtel.

The new rights deals were completed on behalf of Basketball Australia by the men’s NBL after it agreed a deal to become the governing body’s commercial rights partner last year.

The NBL markets, promotes and licenses the commercial rights and assets controlled by Basketball Australia, including the rights for all national teams, the WNBL, and the Australian Junior Championships.

Describing the significance of this broadcast agreement for Australian women’s basketball, Jerril Rechter, Basketball Australia chief executive, said: “This broadcast agreement with Fox Sports, Kayo and the ABC will provide the Chemist Warehouse WNBL with more exposure than ever before. 

“This high-profile visibility across Australia will help build upon the popularity and growth of women’s basketball and inspire a whole new generation.”

Earlier this month, Basketball Australia confirmed that the 2020 WNBL season would be played out of a North Queensland hub.

All eight teams will relocate for the new season, with games to be played in Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.

Starting on 11 November, each team will play 14 games before a four-game final series, with the grand final scheduled for 20 December.

Sportcal